Locking device



p 11, 1940. c.'c.sTRAr-1GE my 2,214 718 LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 50, 1937 INVENTORS 4723" Patented Sept. l7, 1940 UNITED STATES OFFICE LOCKING DEVICE Application July 30, 1937, Serial No. 156,486

13 Claims.

This invention relates to locking devices and more particularly to aparatus whereby the looking and releasing of a movable member may be controlled by a second member which is movable 5 relative to said first member.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel apparatus suited for controlling amotor vehicle brake mechanism by movement of the clutch, i. e., for holding the brake in applied position while the clutch is disengaged and releasing the same upon the engaging movement of the clutch so as to leave the motor vehicle operators right foot free for application to the accelerator pedal.

Another object of the invention is to combine a device of the above character with hydraulically actuated brakes in a novel manner.

Another object is to provide a novel locking brake device adaptable for operation with the 20 brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle which will in operation release the brake mechanism at any desired moment during the engaging movement of the clutch mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is 23 the provision of novel locking means which may be rendered operable to lock the brake mechanism by the disengaging movement of the clutch mechanism. 1

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a locking device equipped with a novel, readily accessible, adjusting means for controlling the moment at which said locking device is released by coaction with the clutch mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel locking device comprising locking members whereby a more positive and responsive locking and releasing action than is obtainable with prior art devices of a similar 40 type is obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel locking mechanism that is simple in construction, easily installed, and adaptable to large scale production at low cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide novel locking means for holding a brake mechanism, which means are compact, occupy only a small space and comprise only a small number of parts.

A still further object is the provision of novel apparatus of the above type which is adaptable for mounting and use in a motor vehicle without .material alteration of the. brake or clutch structure.

The above and'further objects and novel fea- (Cl. 192-l3) tures of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to define the limits of the invention, reference being had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, of one embodiment of the present invention as applied to a motor vehicle brake and clutch structure;

Fig. 2' is a similar View showing the parts in locked position;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View with parts broken away, taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,- and 20 Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View showing the action of the locking members.

In general, the single embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, by way of eX- ample, comprises means for locking the hydraulically actuated brake mechanism of an automotive vehicle in applied position, said means being adapted to be rendered operative to hold the brakes in applied position only at the will of the driver and being so constructed as to not interfere in any way whatever with the normal or emergency application of the brakes. The locking means is preferably controlled by an element of the clutch mechanism in such a manner that an additional movement and slight effort in addition to that ordinarily employed in actuating the clutch is required to render said locking means operative. Said additional effort need not be a continuing effort, however, during the entire time that the brakes are being held in applied position but only a slight temporary effort to be applied during the last fraction of an inch of clutch pedal movement, for example, in clutch disengaging direction. The release of the looking means and, hence, release of the brakes, is accomplished by the engaging movement of the clutch mechanism, it being possible, if desired, to time the brake release in any suitable manner with respect to the actual engagement of the clutch driving surfaces. It is usually desirable to release the brakes. at substantialy the same instant that the clutch plates or driving surfaces of the vehicle clutch mechanism engage and thereby prevent any backward rolling of the Vehicle when starting up an incline.

In the single embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a frame or supporting member I is stationarily secured by any suitable means such as bolts or screws H, II to the engine block or some part of the chassis represented diagrammatically on the drawing by the beam I2. Cast integrally with the frame If) and extending upwardly therefrom are two lugs or arms I3, I3, through which openings I 4, I4 are coaxially bored. The shape of openings l4, I4 is made to conform with the shape of a rod I5 which is preferably cylindrical and slidable therethrough. Rod I5 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is an element of a hydraulic brake system. It will be understood, however, that the locking device hereinafter described is adaptable for use with any motor vehicle brake mechanism of which a slidable member is a part or to which a slidable member may be suitably affixed so as to move with the elements which apply the braking pressure.

As shown, rod I5 is rigidly fixed at one end to a piston rod l6 by any suitable means such as nuts I I, I8 so as to be movable therewith and transmit pressure therethrough to piston l9. Piston I9 is reciprocable in a cylinder 20 for building up and transmitting the required fluid pressure in a conventional hydraulic braking system, said piston being maintained in its normal, released position (Fig. l) by a compressed coil spring 2|. Movement of the piston I9 to the left from its normal position causes a fluid in cylinder 20 to flow into the reservoir or overflow chamber 22 until opening 23 has been completely shut off by said piston and thereafter causes said fluid to flow through conduits 24 and 25 to the front and rear brakes, respectively, to apply said brakes (not shown) in a manner well known in the art.

For the purpose of moving rod I5, l6 and piston I9 to the left for applying the brakes, the other end of said rod I5 is pivotally connected by any suitable means to an arm 26, said means, in the embodiment shown, comprising a socket or recess 21 in the end of rod I5 and a ball or sphere 28 integral with arm 26 which fits into said recess and about which the Walls of the recess may be peened to form a universal ball joint. Arm 26 is adapted to coact with the lower end 29 of a brake pedal 3llso as to transmit to rod I5 the braking pressure applied to said pedal by the driver and, hence, apply the brakes in the manner above described.

If, subsequently to the application of the braking pressure, the brakes are locked in applied position, such as by the novel locking means to be hereinafter fully described, the brake pedal will return to its normal position immediately upon removal of the operators foot pressure and while the brake mechanism is otherwise in applied position. The means for accomplishing such action, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, comprises a sleeve 3| slidably mounted on arm 26 and pivotally connected by any. suitable means, such as pin 32, to brake lever 29, 30. In normal unapplied position of the brakes and brake pedal, as shown in Fig. l, sleeve 3| is adapted to .bear against the face of a collar 33 which is integral with a nut 34. Nut 34 is threadedly secured to arm 26 and adapted to be locked in adjusted position by lock nut 35. Thus, as pedal 29, 30 is actuated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, pressureis transmitted through sleeve 3| and collar 33 to rod I5, I6 and, hence, to piston I 9 for applying the brakes. After application of the brakes, the brake pedal may be returned, upon release by the operator and independently of the brakes themselves, by any suitable means, such as a coil spring 36 which is shown fixed at one end to lever 29 and at the other end to the supporting member I2. It will be understood that the return of the brake pedal after removal of the operators foot may be accomplished by providing means other than the pivotal sleeve connection'shown, such other means being, for example, apin fixed to the brake lever 29, 30 and adapted to be slidably mounted in a slot in arm 26.

A brake locking device, in order to be adaptable for large-scale commercial production, should be simple of construction and should consist of relatively few parts. The parts must be designed so as to be rapidly assembled and installed. Furthermore, the locking device should be positive in action and responsive to a simple control means. A novel locking means adapted to meet to the fullest extent these rigid requirements of the automotive industry has been provided by the present invention and, as shown, said means comprise a plurality of relatively thin locking members or plates, two such plates 31, 38 being shown, by way of example, although any other reasonable number may be utilized depending upon the degree of gripping action and responsiveness of such action which is desired. Said locking plates are freely mounted for pivotal movement in a groove 39 in supporting frame Iii so that the same may be angularly displaced to a limited extent relative to said frame and yet be held against bodily movement with rod I5 as the latter is moved axially. Groove 39 is positioned between arms I3, I3 so that plates 31, 38 extend upwardly between said arms and rod I5 passes through registering openings 40 and 4| in plates 3! and 38, respectively. Said openings have diameters slightly greater than the diameter of rod I5 so that when axes of the openings are coincident with the axis of the rod, the latter will be free to move relative to locking plates 31, 38. If, however, said plates are angularly displaced with respect to rod I5 so that the walls of openings 40, 4| come into gripping engagement with the periphery of the rod, as shown in Fig. 4, said rod will be locked against axial movement in the direction of the relative angular displacement. It will be readily understood that, with plates 31, 38 in locking position, the greater the force acting upon the locked member, i. e., rod I5, in the direction against which the same is held against movement, the greater will be the looking or gripping action of the plates since the said force will, by reason of the gripping action, tend to increase the angular displacement of the plates. Any increase in angular displacement of the locking plates relative to rod I5 will necessarily cause an increase in the degree of contact between the locked member and the locking plates, and thus in the gripping action of the plates.

Less angular displacement is required of a thin locking member in apparatus of this character to obtain a given gripping action than is required of a relatively thick locking plate and if the plate is too thick it is impossible toobtain a satisfactory gripping action. Accordingly, the use of a plurality of locking plates results in a greater total gripping surface per unit of total thickness of the locking members with a smaller angular displacement thereof than is obtainable when a single, comparativelythick locking member is employed. A more positive and more responsive locking device is thus provided Without sacrificing strength. Furthermore, the distance from the pivotal axis of the plates to the axis of the plate opening need not be as great for a thin plate as for a thicker plate, thereby reducing the amount of material which is required and increasing the rigidity.

A light coil spring 42 is preferably interposed between member 38 and one of arms l3 and, as shown, surrounds rod l5. Said spring exerts only a suflicient expansive force to maintain plates 31, 38 in an upright, inoperative position in contact with a pin 43, said pin being rigidly fixed to the supporting member I2 and properly positioned relative to slot 39 so that plate 31 will contact the same only when the faces of the locking plates are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rod l5, that is, in such position as ,topermit said rod to move freely therethrough. Spring 42 does not exert a great enough pressure to interfere with the movement of the locking plates 31, 38 into operative position nor to independently effect the release of said plates when the brakes are being held in locked position thereby.

To eifect the movement of locking plates 31, 38 into and out of locking engagement with rod I of the brake mechanism, novel control means which may be readily attached to the clutch mechanism for operation thereby are provided, said novel means, in the form shown, comprising a lever 46 fulcrumed about the same axis as clutch pedal 44 and rigidly connected to said pedal so as to be angularly movable therewith. A second arm or lever 41 is keyed or otherwise fixed to rotate with a short shaft 48 which is journalle-d for rotary movement in a bearing 53 formed in beam I2 (Fig. 3). A link 89 which is pivotally fixed at one end to lever 48 and at the other end to arm 41 serves to connect said lever and arm and to transmit the angular motion of theclutch pedal to arm 41, and thus impart a proportionate angular movement to shaft 48. The pivotal connection between arm 41 and link 49 may be of any suitable type, such as a sleeve 50 slidably mounted on link 43 and pivotally connected to arm 41 by a laterally projecting pin 58a. Sleeve 53 is adjustably fixed against movement along link "it by nuts 5! and 52 which are threadedly secured to said link.

Mounted on the brake pedal side of support i2 on shaft 48 for rotation therewith is a bell crank lever 54 on one arm 56 of which a laterally extending pin 55 is suitably fixed, said pin being of suffi-cient length to engage locking plate 31 and move the same to tilted or looking position when shaft 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Cast integrally with the other arm 58 of bell crank lever 54 are two laterally extending lugs 59, 59 that are coaxially bored to threadedly receive studs or set screws 68, 68.

A cam 6| is mounted on shaft 48 so as to be free to'rotate thereon. Studs 88, 60, by engaging a lug 52 which is integral with said cam and extends radially from shaft 48 prevent relative rotation of said cam and shaft, except for the purpose of adjustment, and cause said cam to rotate in both directions with bell crank lever 54 and, hence,

38. The same control of the pivotal movement of said locking plates may be obtained by the use of a lever having two pins integral therewith, i. e., a bifurcated element with laterally extending arms which correspond to pin 55 and cam 6! of lever 54 and are suitably disposed with relation to plates 31, 38.

When the locking plates 31, 38 are in their normal disengaged position, as shown in Fig.

and the center line of openings 58, 4| is coincident with the axis of rod l5, the latter is free to move axially in either direction. Plates 31, 33 when in said position extend between pin 55 and cam 6| but are not in contact with either the pin or the cam. By depressing the brake pedal 38 the brake mechanism is applied and the brakes remain in applied position as long as the brake pedal is depressed, that is, as long as the motor vehicle operator maintains the pressure on said brake pedal. In normal operation, when this pressure is relieved, pedal 38 is returned to its normal position by the pressure exerted upon it by coil spring 36 and by coil spring 2| through collar 33. If, however, the plates 31, 38 are angularly displaced so as to have the walls of openings 40, 4| engage rod l5 as shown in Fig. 4, then said rod will be restrained from any movement in the direction of this displacement. Thus, the force of spring 2! tending to return the brake mechanism to unapplied position will be counterbalanced by the gripping action of plates 31, 38 upon rod [5 and, if the operators foot pressure is then relieved, the brakes will remain in applied position. Brake pedal 30, however, will return to normal position with the release of the. operators foot under the pressure applied to it by coil spring 36 (Fig. 2).

The angular displacement of the plates 31, 38 to lock rod I5 is effected by movement of the clutch mechanism to disengaged position, said movement being transmitted through lever 46, link 49, arm 41 and shaft 48 to bell crank lever 54 so as to move said lever in a clockwise direction. Said clockwise rotation of crank 54 will at some predetermined position of the clutch mechanism, cause pin 55 to engage plate 31 and thereafter to pivotally move plates 31, 38 against the force of spring 42 into locking engagement with rod I5. By adjustment of nuts 5| and 52 so as to vary the effective length of link 49, the engagement of pin 55 with the locking plate 31 can be made to occur at any desired position of the clutch mechanism in its disengaging movement. It is preferable to have pin 55 begin to displace plates 31, 38 at a point in the movement of the clutch pedal that is appreciably past the point at which the clutch plates are fully disengaged. This arrangement will give the operator of a motor Vehicle the option of using the holding device or not, as he sees fit, without preventing or aifecting in any way the normal use of the clutch and brake mechanism. To apply the locking device, a slight additional pressure to the clutch pedal must be exerted to overcome the pressure of spring 42 and initiate a gripping action. This pressure is, however, too small in magnitude to require any material additional exertion by the operator, the same being only suflicient to give him notice of the application of the holding device.

Once plates 31, 38 have been displaced so as to be in locked or gripping engagement with rod l5, pressure need no longer be applied to plates 31, 38 by pin 55 since the force which is resisted by the plates, namely, the pressure of spring 2! depending on the direction of rotation of shaft and the usual brake releasing springs transmitted to rod 15, tends to increase the effectiveness of the locking engagement, as has been heretofore pointed out. As a result, the operator may relax and permit the partial return of the clutch pedal without releasing the brakes, taking precaution, however, to limit this return so that cam 6| will not contact plate 38. Even though members 31, 38 are in locked position and held therein by the pressure of pin 55, the brakes may nevertheless be further applied at any time by exerting the necessary pressure on pedal 3!).

Cam 5! is suitably constructed and adjusted so that, upon the return of the clutch mechanism to engaged position and the consequent counterclockwise rotation of lever 54, it will engage the angularly displaced plate 38 and force plates 31 and 38 out of their locked engagement with rod I5. The position of the clutch mechanism at which the release of the locking plates and, hence, of the brakes, occurs is preferably at substantially the point of clutch plate engagement. Release of the brakes at the instant of clutch plate engagement in this manner insures against any backward rolling or stalling of the vehicle when the latter is being started up an incline. To obtain release of the brakes at the desired time, cam 6| is equipped with independent adjusting means comprising lug 62 and coacting studs 60, 6|). The cam position may be adjusted roughly prior to installation and then by trial a finer adjustment may be made after installation, the simple type of adjusting means being extremely adaptable for such procedure and for changes in the adjustment when wear in the clutch plates makes such changes advisable.

There is thus provided novel apparatus which is particularly adapted for holding the brakes of an automotive vehicle in applied position, said apparatus being so constructed that it will not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the brake and clutch mechanism, the same being rendered operative only at the conscious will of the operator. Novel means are provided for controlling the engagement of the holding elements which means are directly connected to the clutch mechanism and readily adjustable for variation of the point at which the clutch will render the device provided is very efiicient and extremely responsive to movement by the control means for locking and unlocking the member to be held. Adjusting means are also provided whereby the point of engagement and disengagement of the locking means may be readily varied. Furthermore, the device of the present invention comprises only a small number of simple, readily assembled parts which may be quickly and properly installed in a vehicle by any ordinary mechanic.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto but that various changes may be made, particularly in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference will be had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a longitudinally movable element, guide means for said element, means for holding said element against movement in one direction comprising a plurality of comparatively thin locking members pivotally mounted adjacent said element with adjacent faces thereof in slidingengagemenasaid meme bers having aligned openings therein through which said element slidably extends, whereby said members are adapted to grip said element when the same are tilted relative to the axis of said element, and means normally holding said members in non-tilted position.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a longitudinally movable element, pivotally mounted means having portions spaced radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said means, and pivoted locking means extending between said portions and having an opening through which said element slidably extends, whereby said locking means is adapted to grip said element when said locking means are tilted relative to the axis of said element, said locking means being adapted to be engaged by one of said portions to be moved into locking position and by the other of said por tions to be moved out of locking position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a longitudinally movable element, pivotal locking means adapted to frictionally hold said element against movement in at least one direction, and a member pivotable about an axis, said member having a pair of axially extending arms mounted thereon, said arms being disposed on opposite sides of the free end of said locking means and being adapted to engage and move said locking means into and out of locking engagement with said movable element.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a longitudinally movable element, locking means associated therewith and adapted to lock said element when pivotally displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of said element, and means for controlling the angular displacement of said locking means comprising a pivotally mounted member having laterally extending elements disposed one on each side of said locking means and adapted to displace said locking means in the direction in which said member is pivoted.

5. In combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle, an element movable with said brake mechanism, holding means adapted to hold said element against movement in at least one direction to lock said brake mechanism in applied position, and pivotal means movable by said clutch mechanism for rendering said holding means operative at one point of clutch movement and inoperative at a difierent point of clutch movement to hold said element.

able with said brake mechanism, holding means adapted to hold said element against movement in at least one direction to lock said brake mechanism in applied position, and pivotal means controlled by movement of said clutch mechanism for moving said holding means into and out of operative position at difierent points respectively in the movement of the clutch mechanism.

'7. In combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle, an element movable with said brake mechanism, holding means adapted to hold said element against movement in at least one direction to lock said brake mechanism in applied position, and pivotal means controlled by movement of the clutch mechanism adapted to move said holding means into operative position on the disengaging stroke of said clutch mechanism at one point in the travel of the latter and into inoperative position on the engaging stroke thereof at a difierent point in the travel of saidmechanism.

8. The combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle of a supporting member, an element movable with the brake mechanism, locking means comprising a plurality of locking plates mounted on said member with adjacent faces thereof in sliding engagement and adapted to hold said element against movement in at least one direction, and means actuated by the clutch mechanism for controlling the engagement of said locking means with said element, said last-named means comprising a pin for moving said locking means into engagement with said element and an adjustable cam member for moving said locking means out of engagement with said element.

9. The combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle of a supporting member, frictional locking means mounted on said member, resilient means normally holding said locking means in inoperative position, an element movable with the brake mechanism and adapted to be engaged by said locking means to hold said brake mechanism in applied position, and clutch actuated means for controlling the engagement of said locking means, said clutch actuated means comprising a lever having a pin for moving said locking means into engagement against the action of said resilient means mounted thereon and a cam for moving said locking means out of engagement associated therewith.

10. The combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle of a supporting member, locking means comprising a plurality of locking plates mounted on said member with the adjacent faces thereof in sliding engagement, an element movable with the brake mechanism and adapted to be engaged by said locking means to hold said brake mechanism in applied position, and clutch actuated means for. controlling the engagement of said locking means, said clutch actuated means comprising a lever having a member for moving said locking means into engagement mounted thereon and a second mem ber for moving said locking means out of engagement associated therewith.

11. The combination with the brake and clutch mechanism of a motor vehicle of a support, an element associated with the brake mechanism, means for connecting said element to the pedal of said brake mechanism so as to transmit the motion of said pedal to said element only in one direction, means mounted on said support for engaging said element so as to lock it against motion in the other direction, and means mounted on said support for moving said locking means into and out of engagement with said element.

12. In combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle, an element movable with said brake mechanism, means for connecting the brake pedal to said brake mechanism to transmit motion of said pedal to' said mechanism in only one direction, resilient means coacting with said pedal and yieldingly opposing the motion of said pedal in said direction, means comprising a multiplicity of locking plates for holding said element against motion in a direction opposite to said direction, other resilient means in contact wtih said locking plates tending to hold said holding means inoperative, and pivotal means movable with said clutch mechanism adapted to move said locking means intoand out of locking engagement with said element.

13. In combination with the brake and clutch mechanisms of a motor vehicle, means including an element movable with the brake mechanism for connecting the brake pedal to said brake mechanism to transmit motion of said pedal to said mechanism in only one direction, resilient means yieldingly opposing the motion of said pedal in brake applying direction, locking means for holding said element against motion in brake releasing direction, yielding means normally holding said locking means in inoperative position, and pivotal means movable with said clutch mechanism adapted to move said locking means into and out of locking engagement with said element. CHARLES C. STRANGE.

ERIC J. PILBLAD. 

